Internal-combustion engine.



J. WILKINSON.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE APPLICATION FILED 315.20, 190a.

1,1 19,914. Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES: 0% Z/INVENTOR 045;! M I W 0 BY ATTORNEYS J. WILKINSQN. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED PER. 20,1908. 1,1 19,914. Patented Dec.8,1914

3 SEEETB"BHEBT 2.

INVENTOR MW ATTORNEYS WITN ESSES J. WILKINSON. INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED 115.20, 190a.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

INVENTOR WWW WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WILKINSON, 0F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 H. H. FRANKLIN MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION I ENGINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec.s,1914.

Application filed February 20, 1908. Serial No. 416,874.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOIIN WILniNsox, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Internal-Combustion Engine, of which the following is a specification- My invention has for its object the production of an internal combustion engine structure which is especially simple, conipact and durable, and is highly etlicient in use, and it consists of the parts and combinations to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

One excmpliflcation of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings I wherein:

Figure is a vertical sectional view through the engine cylinder and associated parts. Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale of the valve mechanism, with the parts thereof in the positions occupied thereby when the inlet valve is unseated. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the casing of the valve mechanism and associated parts; and Fig. at is a detail plan view.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated, a, designates an engine cylinder, 1), the crank case associated therewith, and c, the crank shaft. The cylinder is preferably provided with a plurality of peripheral radiating projections, as flanges a, and with an axial opening a? in its outer .end, of less diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder, for the reception of a part of a self-contained valve mechanism, to be hereinafter described in detail, which may be said to constitute the head of the cylinder. The wall of the opening a flares outwardly, and the wall of the combustion chamber adjacent thereto is of substantially truncated conoidal shape and terminates at. the inner edge of said opening.

(l designates a supply pipe for the explo' sive mixture having a discharge opening d at the end thereof adjacent the outer end of the cylinder. An exhaust conduit 6 is located at the side of the cylinder opposite to the opening (1, and is provided with an opening 0 arranged substantially opposite to the former opening.

The selfcontained valve mechanism coinprises a hollow body f, surmounting the end of the cylinder, and detachably secured thereto. This hollow body is preferably in said part f the form of a single casting having the main I portion thereof above the cylinder and it carries the inlet and exhaust valves and the means for holding the same in closed position, and thus all of the parts may be removed as a unit from the cylinder, or attached as a unit thereto. The main portion of the hollow body f, isprovided with opposite lateral extensions and with openings or ports f F leading through said extensions and the outer ends thereof above the cylinder and designed to register, respectively, with the openings d and c, and said body is further provided with a reduced lower end or depending hollow nipple or tubular part f of inverted truncated, conical shape, adapted to fitwithin the opening a and with opposite lateral extensions or lugs f through which suitable bolts f pass into the wall of the cylinder for securing the body 1 to the end of the cylinder. The inner edge of the tubular-part f is suitably beveled to provide a valve seat 5/, and the interior of the body f is provided with a substantially centrally-disposed diaphragm h which divides the same into upper and lower passageways or compartments 2', j. This diaphragm is provided with an opening, disposed with its axis substantially in alinement with that of the tubular part f and surrounded by a flange or collar m which depends within the tubular part f', is spaced apart from the inner wall thereof, and terminates in close proximity to the mouth of The inlet and exhaust valves are, respectivel v,'designated n, 1' and constitute the entire closure for the opening at the end of the part f and when theyalve mechanism is assembled in the cylinder, asthis opening is substantially coincident with the inner edge of the opening (1 the two valves 22., 1' may be said to constitute the end wall of the combustion chamber in the cylinder.

The inlet valve n seats upon the surface 9 and is provided with a tubular stem portion a which snugly fits the bore of the part m and is guided therein. The bore of the part n opens through the alve n into the combustion chamber of the cylinder, and opens into the passageway or compartment 5 of the hollow bodyf through orifices or ports n provided in a conical continuation n of the part n. .The conical part utterminates in a cylindrical portion n of relatively small diameter which passes through an opening in the top of the body f, and the bore of boss or flange surrounding such opening, I cap-piece forming a shoulder between wh ch and the top of the body f a suitable spring n is interposed which tends to hold the val \"e 71. upon its seat. The exhaust valve r controls the passageway through the inlet valve n and has a stem r guided in the restricted part n of the stem of the mlet valve, and in a depending sleeve a which is provided within the stem of said inlet valve and terminates in close proximity to the 1nlet valve. Said stem 1" is provided at its outer end with a cap-piece forming a bearing shoulder for a spring 1- which tends to hold the valve 7' seated. This spring finds a bearingat its opposite end against a laterally projecting arm of a bracket t, sa d arm being disposed above the cap piece engaged by the spring at and having an opening through'which the stem 1'' is guided, this bracket being secured in the body f and forming in effect an integral part thereof.

The valves n, r arepositively unseated against the action of the springs n, r at the proper periods by levers w, and w mounted in brackets bolted to the upper wall of the conduit 6, such levers being actuated from a camshaft 1 through the intermediary of push rods 2 connected at their upper end to the outer ends of said levers, and having suitable bearing surfaces at their lower ends for coaction with the cams on the cam-shaft. As will be understood, the valve 1' alone is depressed at the time the exhaust is to occur, but at the time the inlet port is to be uncovered both of the valves n and r are depressed by reason of the fact that the valve 11, in its opening movement carries the valve r with it, and thus the latter remains seated during the period the valve n is removed from its seat.

The cylinder a is preferably provided with a supplemental exhaust port 3 opening from its inner end, and leading intoa valve casing 4 in open communication with a suitable exhaust conduit. The casing 4 is provided with a passageway having a beveled seat (3 upon which a suitable valve 7 is normally held seated by a spring 8. The valve 7 is unseated. at the proper periods by a cam 9 on the shaft 1 acting through a suitable push rod 10. It will be understood that the valve 7 is unseated as the piston passes beyond the port 3 on the working stroke, and remains unseated until after the piston passes such port on its return stroke. During this period exhaust takes place unobstructedly through the supplemental port 3. Directly after the completion of the power stroke of the piston, the valve 1 is and is surmounted by a suitable unseated and remains unseated during the period required for the piston tocomplete its return or exhaust stroke. Upon the intake stroke of the piston the valve n is unseatr-d, the valve r remains seated, and a fresh charge is drawn into the cylinder, and, directly contacts with the valve 11., stem n, and seat g. During the compression and working strokes of the piston both valves 12, r are held upon their seatgrby the springs before described, and by the pressure within the piston-chamber To those skilled in the art the following will be apparent, viz: The supplemental exhaust port 3, at the inner end of the cylinder effects the escape at such end of a material part of the heated exhaust gases, causes a rapid and great reduction of the pressure within the cylinderbefore the exhaust valve r is opened, and avoids the necessity of forcing all of the heated gases at great pressure through a single port of small area in the outer end of the cylinder, and of subjecting an exhaust valve, as r, exposed at the inner surface of said outer end, to the intense heat to whielrit would otherwise be subjected, this heat being frequently suflicient in an air-cooled engine to distort and destroy such exhaust valve in a few hours. Said port 3 thus materially reduces the liability of undue or ununiform heating of the aircooled walls of the cylinder and of the comparatively light exhaust valve 1', and greatly adds to the durability of the valve 1' and the efliciency of the engine. The exhaust valve r arranged at the outer end of the cylinder in alinement with the axis thereof, permits of a maximum scavenger action when the piston operates to discharge the exhaust gases. The hollow inlet valve encircling such exhaust valve affords a maximum area for the admission of the ases, and the concentrically arranged passage-ways for the gases are so disposed that the incoming gases pass over and cool the surfaces heated by the exhaust through the outer end of the cylinder. An air-cooled engine equipped with a supplemental exhaust port and con centrically-arranged inlet and exhaust valves and passageways disposed and constructed as described, is capable of developing ma ximum power, as required in propelling the modern commercial automobile, and such engine operates with a minimum liability of undue or ununiform heating of the aircooled walls of the-cylinder, or undue heating, distortion and destruction of the concentrically-arranged valves, or reduction in the efficiency of the engine, especially when developing maximum power.

The construction and operation of an engine equipped with my invention will be understood from the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and it will be appreciated that cersubstantially as tain of the parts may be varied, changed or omitted without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

'hat I claim is:-

1. In an engine, a cylinder having its end wall integral with the side walls thereof and provided with an axial opening, a hollow body detachablv mounted upon said end wall and including a portion extending into the axial opening, and a major portion spaced apart from the cylinder and said end wall of the same, and provided in its opposite sides with inlet and exhaust ports, said body having passage-ways therein leading from the ports to the interior of the cylinder through said portion extending into the axial opening, inlet and exhaust conduits detaehably engaging the body and communicating respectively with said ports therein. an inlet valve seating on the .tirstnamed portion of the body. and provided with a central passagewvay, a concentricallyarranged exhaust valve or closing said passage-way, and means on the exterior of the body for controlling the movement of said valves, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder having an outwardly flaring opening in the head thereof:

'ot a self-contained valve mechanism comprising a hollow body having the main portion thereof above the cylinder and having a reduced lower end complemental to and fitting within said opening, the hollow body having inlet and exhaust ports opening through opposite portions of the side wall thereof located exteriorly of the cylinder and the head thereof. and also having internal passages communicating with the inlet and exhaust ports respectively and adapted to (,()l1'1ll'llllll('lli6 with the cylinder, an inlet valve in the body coaxial with the cylinder for controlling the passage cmmnunicating with the inlet port, an exhaust valve mounted concentrically in the inlet 'alve for controlling the passage connininicating with the exhaust port. and inlet and exhaust conduits connected to the inlet and exhaust ports, and detachably connected to said exteriorly located portions of the cylinder, and for the purpose setforth.

I). In an internal combustion engine. the combination with a cylinder ha ingan outwardly flaring opening in the he; d thereof; of a selt-ctmtained valve mechanism comprising a hollow body having the main por tion thereof above, the cylinder and having a reduced lower end coiuplen'iental to and fitting within said opening, the main portion of the body being provided with opposite lateral extensions above the outer end of the cylinder and with additional lateral extensions, and said hollow body having inlet and exhaust ports opening through said additional lateral extensions and also having internal passages communicating with the inlet and exhaust ports respectively and adapted to cor munieate with the cylinder, an inlet valve the body coaxial with the cylinder for corrolling the passage communicating with the inlet port, an exhaust valve mounted concentrically in the inlet valve and controlling the passage communicating with the exhaust port, screws passing through the first-mentioned lateral extcnsions of the body into the opposing surface of the cylinder, and inlet and exhaust conduits connected to the inlet and exhaust ports, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination in an internal-combustion engine, with a cylinder having 'an opening in the end thereof, said opening be ing of less diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder and being provided with an outwardly flaring wall, and an inlet pipe and an exhaust conduit provided with openings; of a valve mechanism comprising a body having inlet and exhaust ports adapted to register, respectively, with the openings of said inlet pipe and exhaust conduit, said body carrying contiguous portionsof the inlet pipe and the exhaust conduit and being provided with a depending tubular part decreasing in diameter toward its end and fitting the outwardly flaring wall of the opening in the cylinder, and with a diaphragm provided with an opening and a de- 100 pending flange arranged substantially concentric with the inner wall of said tubular part, a hollow valve and valve stem, said stem being guided in the flange, a second valve seating within the first-named valve, 105 and in ans for operating the valves, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In an internal-combustion engine, the combination with an engine cylinder having an opening through one end thereof, said m opening being of less diameter than the internal diameter of the cylinder and being provided with an outwardly flaring wall, an inlet pipe having its discharge opening arranged adjacent to one side of said end of 115 the cylinder, and an exhaust conduit having an opening arranged adjacent to the opposite side of said end of the cylinder; of a self-contained valve mechanism including a hollow body surmounting the end of the cyl- 120 inder and having inlet and exhaust ports adapted to register respectively with the openings of said inlet pipe and exhaust c0nduit, said body carrying contiguous portions of the inlet pipe and the exhaust conduit, 125 and said body being provided with a depending tubular part decreasing in diameter toward its end and fitting the outwardly flaring Wall of the opening in the cylinder dividing the inner chamber thereof into two passageways or compartments with which the openings of the inlet pipe and, the exhaust conduit, respectively, communicate, said diaphragm having an opening therethrough, a valve controlling the discharge from the inlet passageway in the body and having a passageway '-thercthrough for communicating with the exhaust passageway in the bfidy, means tending to hold the valve seated, means for unseating the same at proper ,periods, a second valve controlling the"passageway through the first-named valve, a stem carrying the second valve, means tending to hold the second valve seated, and means for positively unseating the same at the proper periods, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder having an opening in the head thereof; of a self-contained valve mechanism comprising a hollow body supported by the head of the cylinder and having inlet and exhaust ports and internal passagescommunicating with the inlet and 1 exhaust ports respectively and adapted to communicate with the cylinder, valves supported by the body within the same and controlling the flow through the passages respectively, the valves being arranged in concentric relation, and one having a tubular stem projecting outside of the body and the other having a stem slidable axially in the tubular stem and projecting beyond the outer end of the tubular stem, means coacting with the stems for actuating the valves in one direction, and springs for returning v the valves in the opposite direction, the

springs coacting with the stems respectively and being located one above the other outside of the body, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a cylinder having an opening in the head thereof; of a self-contained valve mechanism comprising a hollow body supported by the head of the cylinder and having inlet and exhaust ports and internal passages communicating with the inlet and exhaust ports respectively and adapted to communicate with the cylinder, valves supported by the body within the same and controlling the flow through the passages respectively, the valves being arranged in concentric relation, and one having a tubular stem projecting outside of the body and a shoulder mounted on the stem and spaced apart from the body, and the other valve having a stem slidable axially in the first mentioned stem and projecting beyond the outer end of the same and a shoulder on the outer end of the last-mentioned stem, a bracket, carried by the body and having a spring seat opposed to the last-mentioned shoulder and located above the shoulder on the tubular stem, means coacting with the stems respectively for actuating the valves in one direction, a spring interposed between the shoulder at the outer end of the tubular stem and the opposing surface of the body, and a spring interposed between the spring seat 011 the bracket and the shoulder at the outer end of) the inner stem, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimany whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 7th day of February, 1908.

JOHN WILKINSON.

Witnesses S. DAVIS, E. K. SEEMILLER.

Copies of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of I'atents. Washington, D. 0. 

